What is the Katara Prize?
The Katara Prize is an annual award dedicated to Arabic literature, sponsored by the Cultural Village Foundation in Katara, Qatar. The primary objective of this award is to enhance the presence of exceptional Arabic novels both in the Arab world and globally. Furthermore, it aims to inspire creative Arab novelists to explore broader horizons in their artistic endeavors. Among the novels awarded in 2020 are:
- The Redif by Mohamed Al-Mokhaznagi.
- Wadi Al-Hatab by Sheikh Ahmed Al-Ban.
- Melanin by Fathia Dabsh.
- Dust of 1918 by Faten Al-Murr.
- Tank Under the Christmas Tree by Ibrahim Nasrallah.
What are the Best Works of Arabic Literature?
There exists a collection of timeless literary works that maintain their significance regardless of how old they become; these are often referred to as the “classics” of Arabic literature. Here is a selection of some notable titles:
- Al-Bayan wa al-Tabyeen by Al-Jahiz.
- Al-Aghani by Al-Asfahani.
- Diwan al-Ma’ani by Abu Al-Hayal Al-Iqdari.
- Nathr al-Durr in Al-Muhadarāt by Abu Saad Al-Abi.
- Al-Tadhkira Al-Hamdhouniya by Ibn Khaldun.
- Rawdat Al-Akhyaar: Selected from Rabi’ al-Abrar by Muhyi Al-Din Ibn Al-Khatib Al-Qasim.
- Kanz Al-Kitab wa Muntakhab Al-Adab by Abu Ishaq Al-Bunsi.
- Majani al-Adab fi Hadayeq Al-Arab by Rizq Allah Sheikho.
- Al-Asma’iyat by Al-Asma’i.
- Al-Kamil fi al-Adab by Muhammad Ibn Yazid Al-Mubarrad.
- Al-Hamasa by Al-Buhturi.
Who are the Most Famous Arabic Writers?
The list of renowned Arab writers is extensive, but a few have achieved global recognition alongside their regional acclaim. Some of these eminent figures include:
Khalil Gibran
A Lebanese writer and painter, Khalil Gibran stands out as one of the prominent figures of the expatriate literary movement and founded the Pen League in 1920. Born in Northern Lebanon in 1883, he moved with his family to the United States in 1895. Tragically, his family members passed away from tuberculosis, and Gibran himself succumbed to the disease in 1931 in New York. His remains were transferred to Lebanon a year later. Among his most famous works are:
- The Broken Wings (1912).
- The Rebel Spirits (1908).
- A Tear and a Smile (1914).
Naguib Mahfouz
An Egyptian novelist born in 1911 and passed away in 2006, Naguib Mahfouz began his literary journey in the 1940s and continued until 2004. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1988 for his novel “The Children of Our Neighborhood.” Mahfouz’s works explore a variety of themes, including historical realism, psychological realism, and social realism. Some of his most notable novels include:
- Radoubis (1943).
- Conflict of Thebes (1944).
- New Cairo (1945).
- Khan Al-Khalili (1946).
- Al-Maqad Alley (1947).